Heat motor operated valves



March 15, 1966 R Y 7 3,240,229

HEAT MOTOR OPERATED VALVES Original Filed Oct. 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. WZL/IQM J40 BY firm/ave ys.

March 15, 1966 w, RAY 3,240,229

HEAT MOTOR OPERATED VALVES Original Filed Oct. 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 25 27 3 Q 28 32 f a INVENTOR. Mun/w 19. RH)

March 15, 1966 w, A, RAY 3,240,229

HEAT MOTOR OPERATED VALVES WILL/HM 1?. Ray BY \%1, Mn KZV M UnitedStates Patent Office Patented Mar. 15, 1966 3,240,229 HEAT MOTOROPERATED VALVES William A. Ray, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor toInternational Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of Maryland Original application Oct. 19, 1961, Ser. No.146,161, now Patent No. 3,151,834, dated Oct. 6, 1964. Divided and thisapplication May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 366,052 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-601) Thisis a division of application Serial No. 146,161 filed October 19, 1961,now Patent No. 3,151,834 granted October 6, 1964.

This invention relates to valves, and particularly to those utilizing aheat motor for operating the valve closure.

Valves are extensively employed for the control of flow of gaseous fuelto a burner. Such a burner may for example be incorporated in househeating furnaces, or furnaces for industrial applications. Usually, thevalves for controlling the flow of fuel are operated by electromagnetsor solenoids. Such magnetic structures are quite expensive and bulky.

It is one of the objects of this invention to make it possibleexpeditiously to utilize heat that is electrically generated, to providethe movement required to operate the closure. While such valves havebeen suggested, the present invention provides a simple and eiiectivemeans for accomplishing the valve operation.

It is another object of this invention to employ a simple form ofdiaphragm valve in which the inlet pressure of the gaseous fuel on oneside of the diaphragm maintains the valve closed, and a heat motoroperated vent valve is used to relieve the pressure on that side, so asto permit the inlet pressure on the other side to move the diaphragm toopen position. With construction, the valve is rendered rugged andreliable.

It is another object of this invention to provide a temporary low-fireposition of the diaphragm valve as the heat motor continues to operate.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of severalembodiments of the invention. 'For this purpose, there are shown a fewforms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification, and which drawings, unless described as diagrammatic, orunless as otherwise indica-ted, are true scale. These forms will now bedescribed in detail, illustrating the general principles of theinvention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description isnot to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention isbest defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FlG-URE 1 is a sectional view of a valve structure incorporating theinvention, some of the details being diagrammatically represented, andthe valve being shown in normally closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating another position ofthe valve;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail fragmentary sectional views,illustrating two positions of an auxiliary valve utilized in the form ofthe invention illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, of a modified form of the invention,the valve being shown in normally closed position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, similar to FIG. 5, but illustratinganother position of the valve structure;

'FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a further modified form of theinvention, the valve being shown in normally closed position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but illustrating another position ofthe valve structure shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but illustrating the valve of FIG. 7in fully opened position; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an auxiliary valvestructure utilized in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, avalve body 1 is provided. This valve body has an inlet opening 2 and anoutlet opening 6. Both of these openings are threaded for accommodationof the inlet conduit 4 and the outlet conduit '5. These conduits forminlet passage 6 and outlet passage 7.

interposed between the inlet and outlet passages 6 and 7 is a partition8 having a vertical portion in which there is a port 9. The upper edgeof the port forms a valve seat 10. g

A valve closure 11 is appropriately mounted on the flexible diaphragm 12overlying the port 9. The upper surface of this diaphragm 12 carries adisc 13 to provide a relatively firm surface against which the centralportion of the diaphragm 12 may rest when it is moved upwardly to openthe valve. A headed rivet 14 holds the diaphragm 12, the closure 11, thedisc 13, and a washer 15 together.

A chamber 16 above the diaphragm 12 is formed by aid of the diaphragmand a housing member 17. The lower edge of the housing member 17 engagesa gasket 18 interposed between the edge of body 1 and the member 17. Thehousing 17 also carries an abutment 19 for a relatively weak conicalspring 20 that urges the diaphragm 12 downwardly.

In order to interrupt communication between passages 6 and 7, inletpressure is exerted above the diaphragm 12 in chamber 16 so as to urgethe diaphragm downwardly into the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1.

When the chamber 16 is vented, however, the inlet pressure acting on thelower surface of the diaphragm 12 is suficient to overcome the force ofthe spring 20, and the valve opens to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Venting of chamber 16 and consequent opening of the valve structure iseliected by the aid of a heat motor. For this purpose, expansible member21 in the form of a rod is provided in the chamber 16. This rod may 'bemade of any appropriate metal or alloy having a suitable coefiicient ofexpansion. This member 21 is adapted to be electrically heated so as toexpand lengthwise, by the aid of a heating unit 22 disposed around themember 21. Appropriate binding posts 23 serve as terminals for theheating unit 22.

The expansible rod 21 is slidingly supported at its left hand end withinan aperture 24 in a headless screw 25. This headless screw engages athreaded aperture in the wall of housing 17 and is adjustable therein soas adjustably to position the rod 21 longitudinally. A screw 26 alsoengages the threaded aperture in order to cover the screw 25.

At its right hand end, rod 21 carries a hollow extension 27 (FIGS. 3 and4) that is open at its end, forming a tapered seat for a ball closure28. This extension 27 is appropriately guided in a port 29 formed in awall 30. This wall 30 is formed integrally with the housing 17. Theextension 27 is guided by several projections 31 formed in the wall ofaperture 29.

The ball closure 28 is urged to the position of FIG. 3 with respect toport 29, by spring 32 when the rod 21 is in its unexpanded position. Inthis unexpanded position, gas at inlet pressure can pass through theextension 27 and past the right hand edge of the member 27 into thechamber 16 as indicated by arrow 33 in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the inletpressure is effective to hold the diaphragm 12 in its depressed positionof FIG. 1.

Gas at inlet pressure is provided by aid of a flexible conduit or hose34 engaging a bushing or nipple 35 carried by the extension 27. The lefthand end of this hose or flexible conduit similarly connects to abushing 36 located in the wall of the housing 17 and communicates by wayof ports 37 and 38 with the inlet side of the valve structure. Thediaphgram 12 and the gasket 18 are both appropriately apertured toprovide a continuous passageway for the gas at inlet pressure.

The right hand end of spring 32 abuts an inner wall for-med in fitting39. This fitting 39 has a hollow threaded extension 40 engaging acorresponding aperture in the wall 17,. The fitting has a flange 41 andan aperture or port 42 vented to atmosphere as by a vent fitting 43threaded into the fitting 41.

In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, as heretofore stated, inletpressure is effective to keep the valve closed. However, as heat isapplied to the rod 21 by energization of the heating unit 22, the rod 21expands and ultimately contacts the ball closure 28. When this happens,the ball closure 28 effectively prevents the flow of inlet gas to thechamber 16. Further expansion of the rod 21 lifts the ball 28 againstspring 32, away from the port 29, opening the port to vent the chamber16 by way of the fitting 43 (FIG. 4). The wall 30 is spaced from theouter wall of housing 17 to provide a chamber for the movement of theball valve closure 28 between the two positions illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4.

When energization of unit 22 ceases, the rod 21 contracts to theposition of FIG. 1, and causes ball 28 to close port 29, and to open thehollow extension 27 In the form shown in FIGS. and 6, the valve body 1and inlet and outlet passages 6 and 7, as well as the diaphragm 12,closure 11, and spring 20 are arranged as in the previous form. Thefunction of this modification is similar to that of the form shown inFIG. 1, but the auxiliary valve structures are different.

Thus, the expanding rod 44 extends through clearance apertures 45 and46a and are appropriately guided therein as by projections 31, such asare illustrated in FIG. 3. The left hand end of the rod cooperates withthe ball closure 46 which in the closed position of the valve (FIG. 5)is lifted from its seat formed by a port 47 in a headless screw 50, andurged to the open position by a relatively weak spring 48. This weakspring 48 extends through the port 47. This headless screw 50 has arecess 51 for the accommodation of the ball closure 46, and isexteriorly threaded within a wall of a housing 57. A fluid tight cap 52is attached to the left hand side of the housing 51 so as to provide anabutment for the left hand side of the spring 48. It also provides forpass-ages indicated by arrow 53 for gas at inlet pressure from ports 54and 55 past the port 47, ball 46, and aperture 45 to the chamber 56.

The aperture 45 is located in a wall 57 that forms a chamber for theaccommodation of the left hand end of rod 44.

At the right hand end of rod 44, a similar arrangement is provided,there being a wall 58 for the accommodation of a ball closure 59 withina recess 60. The aperture 46a extends through the wall 58, and the ball59 is urged to closed position with respect to the aperture 46a by theaid of a relatively strong spring 61. This spring 61 at its right handend abuts a wall of a recess 62 formed in a fitting 63. This fitting 63is threaded into the Wall of housing 51 and accommodates a vent fitting64 in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1. A port 65 providescommunication from the chamber 56 to the vent 64 when the ball 59 islifted from its seat in FIG. 6.

In the unheated position of FIG. 5, the rod 44 is not of sufficientlength to operate either one of the closures 46 or 59. When the heatingunit 22 is energized, the first effect is the compression of relativelyweak spring 48 by b l 46? to clo e off communication f om the inletpassage 6 to the chamber 56, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As the rod 44continues to expand, the ball 59 is urged to the right, opening the ventof the chamber 56, as indicated by the arrows 66 (FIG. 6).

Upon deenergizing the unit 22, the rod 44 gradually contracts; ball 59is first seated, closing vent 64; then ball 46 is unseated, to cause gasunder pressure to pass chamber 46 for closing the main valve.

In the two forms described, the expansion of the rod 21 or 44 is quitegradual so that there is a slow opening of the valve. In the formillustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, a preliminary low-fire opening isprovided which is effective prior to the full opening of the valve.

The valve body 68 in this form is quite similar to body 1 illustrated inthe prior forms. In this instance, expandable rod 69 is provided at itsleft hand end with a hollow extension 70 (FIG. 10) that is guided withina port 71. This port 71 is formed in a wall 72 defining a chamber 73 forthe accommodation of a ball closure 74. A weak spring 75 is provided inthe hollow extension 70. As in the form illustrated in FIG. 1, theinterior of extension 70 is connected by a flexible conduit 76 to theinlet passage 77 of the valve structure. In the cold position of FIGS. 7and 10, gas at inlet pressure is passed to the chamber 78 above thediaphragm 79, as indicated by the arrows 80 of FIG. 10. The flexibleconduit 76 is coupled to the interior of the extension 70 by way ofcoupling bushing 81; and it is coupled to the ports 82 and 83 in thehousing 84 by aid of the coupling bushing 85.

The ball 74 is urged to close the port 71 by aid of a relatively strongspring 86. The left hand end of this spring abuts a wall in the fitting87 threaded into the wall of housing 84. A port 88 (FIG. 10) leads to avent fitting 89 threaded into the fitting 87.

When the ball 74 is ultimately moved toward we left, away from the port71, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the chamber 78 is vented via ports 71 and88 and the valve closure 11 is moved upwardly away from its seat,thereby opening the main valve.

This movement of the ball 74 between the positions of FIGS. 10 and 9 isaccomplished only after substantial expansion of the heated rod 69.Before this happens, a low-fire valve is arranged to be opened at leastpartially, to permit passage of inlet fuel through ports 91 and 92formed respectively in the body 68 and housing 84. Appropriate aperturesare formed in the gasket 93 and diaphragm 94 to permit thiscommunication. Port 92 leads to the left hand side of an externallythreaded ring 95. This ring is accommodated in a wall of the housing 84and has a relatively large through port 96. This through port has aknife-edge seat 97 adapted to cooperate with a closure 98. This closure98 is directly carried by the right hand end of the expansible rod 69which is guided for movement in an aperture 99 in the wall of housing94. An O-ring 100 surrounds the rod 69 to provide an effective seal.

The closure 98 operates in a chamber 101 formed in a wall of casing 84and closed by a fitting 102. This fitting 102 is sealingly attached tothe housing 94 as by the aid of the O-ring 103. Fitting 102 is threadedinto an appropriate threaded aperture.

Located in the chamber 101 is a spring 104, urging the closure 98 toclosed position. Leading from the chamber 101 are the ports 105 and 106located respectively in the housing 84 and valve body 68, an opening inthe outlet side 107 of the valve structure. A manually adjustable plugvalve 108 located in the port 105 serves to adjust the volume of flowthrough the ports 91, 92, 96, 105 and 106, between the inlet passage 77and the outlet passage 107.

When the rod 69 is in the unheated position of FIG. 7, it is contracted,and the valve closure 98 is seated on the ring 95. This therefore stopsany lowfire fuel from being conducted fro-m the passage 77 to thepassage 107.

Shortly after the heating unit 22 is energized, the rod 69 expandstoward the left, since the spring 104 is made stronger than the spring75, but not as strong as spring Sfi. Accordingly, in this stage ofoperation, the extension 70 (FIG. contacts the ball 74 and stops theflow of gas inlet pressure to the chamber 7 8. Additional heating of theunit 22 causes the closure 98 to assume the position of FIG. 8. Thelow-fire ports 91 and 92 pass gas from the inlet 77 through the port 96and ports 105 and 196 to the outlet passage 107. This corresponds tolow-fire, and if the heating is terminated at this point, the valveoperates in low-fire position. In order to limit the opening movement ofthe valve closure 98, a stop is provided by the aid of a screw 110 whichis threaded into the fitting 102 and which carries an O-ring 111 forsealing of the space 101. The inner end of the screw 110 acts as a stopagainst a projection 112 carried on the right hand side of the closure108.

Additional heating of the rod 69 by increased energization will compressthe strong spring 86; the ball '74 is unseated from port 109, as shownin FIG. 9, and the chamber 78 is vented through the vent 89. The valveopens, the closure 11 being lifted from its seat by the force exerted bythe inlet gas pressure beneath the diaphragm 94.

Upon cooling of rod 69, the reverse operations occur; i.e., the vent forchamber 78 is closed by ball 74; then low-fire closure 98 closes port96; and finally weak spring 75 expands to permit entry of gas underpressure into chamber 78 to close the main valve.

The inventor claims:

1. In a valve structure for controlling a gaseous medium: a valve bodyhaving an inlet passage and an out let passage; a partition having anopening defining a main valve seat between the passages; a main valveclosure cooperating with the seat; a diaphragm upon which the closure ismounted; the closure side of the diaphragm being subjected to inletpressure when the closure is seated; means cooperating With the otherside of the diaphragm to define a chamber, means forming a normally openinlet conduit between said inlet passage and said chamber and a firstauxiliary valve controlling said inlet conduit, means forming a normallyclosed outlet conduit independent of the main valve between the saidinlet and outlet passages; a second auxiliary valve controlling saidoutlet conduit; a vent port in said chamber; a third auxiliary valvestructure for controlling said vent port; a first auxiliary closurecommon to said first and third auxiliary valves and a second auxiliaryclosure for said second auxiliary valve; and a heat motor comprising anelongated thermal expansion member having its ends respectively opposedto said first and second auxiliary valve closures and operable byelectrical energy to move said auxiliary valve closures to operate saidfirst, second and third auxiliary valves sequentially to close the saidinlet conduit, to open the said outlet conduit and to vent the saidchamber; and individual spring means associated with each auxiliaryvalve closure for controlling the said sequential operation.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, with the addition ofadjustable means for limiting the opening of said second auxiliaryvalve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,560 3/1938Fox 251285X 2,308,275 1/ 1943 Gauger.

2,924,387 2/1960 Hajny. 3,024,811 3/1962 McKinley 2511l X M. CARYNELSON, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A VALVE STRUCTURE FOR CONTROLLING A GASEOUS MEDIUM: A VALVE BODYHAVING AN INLET PASSAGE AND AN OUTLET PASSAGE; A PARTITION HAVING ANOPENING DEFINING A MAIN VALVE SEAT BETWEEN THE PASSAGES; A MAIN VALVECLOSURE COOPERATING WITH THE SEAT; A DIAPHRAGM UPON WHICH THE CLOSURE ISMOUNTED; THE CLOSURE SIDE OF THE DIAPHRAGM BEING SUBJECTED TO INLETPRESSURE WHEN THE CLOSURE IS SEATED; MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE OTHERSIDE OF THE DIAPHRAGM TO DEFINE A CHAMBER, MEANS FORMING A NORMALLY OPENINLET CONDUIT BETWEEN SAID INLET PASSAGE AND SAID CHAMBER AND A FIRSTAUXILIARY VALVE CONTROLLING SAID INLET CONDUIT, MEANS FORMING A NORMALLYCLOSED OUTLET CONDUIT INDEPENDENT OF THE MAIN VALVE BETWEEN THE SAIDOUTLET AND OUTLET PASSAGES; A SECOND AUXILIARY VALVE CONTROLLING SAIDOUTLET CONDUIT; A VENT PORT IN SAID CHAMBER; A THIRD AUXILIARY VALVESTRUCTURE FOR CONTROLLING SAID VENT PORT; A FIRST AUXILIARY CLOSURECOMMON TO SAID FIRST AND THIRD AUXILIARY VALVE AND A SECOND AUXILIARYCLOSURE FOR SAID SECOND AUXILIARY VALVES; AND A HEAT MOTOR COMPRISING ANELONGATED THERMAL EXPANSION MEMBER HAVING ITS ENDS RESPECTIVELY OPPOSEDTO SAID FIRST AND SECOND AUXILIARY VALVE CLOSURES AND OPEERABLE BYELECTRICAL ENERGY TO MOVE SAID AUXILIARY VALVE CLOSURES TO OPERATE SAIDFIRST, SECOND AND THIRD AUXILIARY VALVES SEQUENTIALLY TO CLOSE THE SAIDINLET CONDUIT, TO OPEN THE SAID OUTLET CONDUIT AND TO VENT THE SAIDCHAMBER; AND INDIVIDUAL SPRING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH AUXILIARYVALVE CLOSURE FOR CONTROLLING THE SAID SEQUENTIAL OPERATION.